Feedlot

Cattle feeding operation [Sparta Baby Beef (Pty) Ltd]

Sparta Feedlot one time capacity of 45,000 head is located in the Marquard district of the Free State. Cattle are sourced through cattle saleyards across South Africa and Namibia.

Every load of entry cattle is unique, requiring special attention in monitoring of health and nutrition. We insure the highest quality of care and comfort to cattle to minimize health problems. Upon cattle arrival they are fed high quality lucerne hay, starter ration with access to high volumes of clean fresh water. The daily feed ration manufacturing and delivery requirement ranges from 450 to 630 tonnes per day.

As cattle enter the feedlot they are fed, identified (i.e. source & cattle buyer) treated (e.g. vaccinated), and sorted accordingly to a specific feeding program. Once these cattle are rested they are treated and sorted accordingly for specific feed management programs.

Cattle enter the feedlot at approximately 250kg per head, grow at an average of 1.5kg per day to an exit market weight of 420kg per head.

Fast Facts

• 35 000 - 45 000 head of cattle are fed on the farm in the Marquard district at any given time during the year.
• Cattle are fed for approximately 100 days and then marketed.
• Calves for feeding are sourced from all over South Africa and Namibia.
• 14 000 - 15 000 tonnes of feed per month is sourced, purchased, mixed and fed to cattle.
• The cattle eat 12 - 14 kg of feed per day (more in summer, less in winter)
• The cattle consume 30 - 40 litres of water per day (more in summer).
• The cattle grow at an average rate of 1.5 - 1.6 kg per day.
• Animals are marketed with a live average weight of 400 - 440 kg.

Feed commodity agents

The many feed commodities are purchased by a number of suppliers across South Africa. These commodities include maize grain, lucerne, hay, minerals and feed additives, as well as numerous by-products including: hominy chop, wheat bran, corn gluten meal, molasses, whole cottonseed, cottonseed meal oil cake, palm kernel oil cake, and copra oil cake.

Feedstuff commodity suppliers are continually monitored for delivered feedstuff quality. When a commodity fails to meet specification upon weighbridge inspection the feedstuff load is rejected and a non-conformance noticed is submitted to supplier.

Sparta grows as well as contracts maize silage and hay from local farmers.

Please contact Gerry Wessels.
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Cattle for sale?
Sparta Beef purchases weaner calves, cows, and ox.

Please contact Lou van Reenen
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